World Drowning Prevention Day: Terrified mum's near-tragedy prompts RNLI warning for Yorkshire beachgoers

Zully, who lives in Leeds, is sharing the traumatic experience of almost losing her son and nephew ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day this weekend.

Zully’s 10-year-old son Subby and 12-year-old nephew Kizza were seconds away from drowning as they clung to the pier stanchions amidst crashing waves in a desperate bid to stay alive during the incident on May 28.

The family are now working with the RNLI to raise awareness of the risks at the coast as schools across the UK break for the summer holidays.

Zully frantically tried to wade out to the boys but feared the worst as she watched Subby’s head disappear beneath the water. Her nephew Ted, 21, a carer from Bradford, clung to the pier in a desperate bid to wade out to reach the boys.

Zully said: “The tide started to come in quickly and I could see the boys in the distance, they were stuck and the water was rising rapidly. A wave whacked me and hit me on the side.

"Ted turned to me and said: ‘Zully, get out, they’re too far out’. I couldn’t go back as I knew if my son heard my voice he’d hang on to the pier, but by now the water was rising fast and I could see him going under.

“It didn’t feel real, it was like I was in some kind of helpless dream – a nightmare. I could see my nephew hanging on, but I could see the fear in his eyes. I could see my boy submerged next to the poles of the pier.

"I scrambled along the pole and was shouting desperately to him, but I just couldn’t get to him. The police came and took me out of the water. I was screaming “I can’t get to him - that’s my son and my small nephew.”

A 999 call was made by a member of the public, and the Coastguard requested the launch of Blackpool RNLI lifeboat. The volunteer crew were paged for the 11th time in seven days.

The D-class inshore lifeboat was on scene within four minutes. They immediately located Subby and Kizza. The lifeboat was manoeuvred alongside the pier stanchions in turn to allow the crew to safely pull the children into the lifeboat.

With Ted higher up the pier supports, and a second crew on scene in the Atlantic 85 RNLI lifeboat now, the D-class crew made the decision out of urgency to deliver the children to paramedics waiting on the shoreline by south pier, and for the Atlantic 85 to complete the rescue of the adult.

Zully said: “God bless these people who came. I can’t comprehend the fact they are just normal people with jobs and their own family, but they’d risk that to save my family. "They don’t get enough credit for what they do. When I saw Subby coming in on that lifeboat and being carried away, it was like a miracle.

“I keep my son so close now, it’s shaken us all. This happened to the people I love and it could so easily happen to other families too.

“Without the RNLI, I would have lost him. We didn’t even know who these rescuers were before, but now I know they are volunteers and the RNLI is a charity, I’d urge people to support them. They do what they do even thinking once about their own lives, what an incredible selfless act.”

Chris Cousens, RNLI Water Safety Lead spoke about the incident and gave advice to Yorkshire coast visitors.

He said: “We are incredibly grateful to Zully and her family for their courage in speaking up about their experience to ensure others are mindful of the risks. Nobody visits the coast expecting to get into difficulty.

"We’re urging families to check the tide times before you go. If you can’t understand the information on tide tables, ask people who know the area and pay attention to any safety signs.

“Always carry a means of calling for help, like a fully charged mobile phone. If you do get into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

“Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim, or thrash about. We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged.

“Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.”

This story is especially poignant with World Drowning Prevention Day approaching this weekend on July 25. It’s a timely reminder of the importance of knowing how to float, especially now the Yorkshire coast will be welcoming thousands during the summer holidays.

For more information and to find a float event near you visit: https://www.respectthewater.com/campaigns-resources/world-drowning-prevention-day/.